Shaft-retaining means.



J. H. VINTON.

SHAFT RETAINING MEANS.

IAPPLIOATION FILED JUNE 30, 1011.

1,020,731 Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

. UNITE STATE FATEN T OFFICE.

JOHN H. VINTON, 0F JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 TRIMONT MAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, .A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SHAFT-RETAINING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 30, 1911.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Serial No. 636,222.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. VINTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamaica Plain, county of Suffolk, State of lVIassachusetts, have invented an lmprovement in Shaft-Retaining Means, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invent-ion relates to means for retaining piv'o-t shafts or pins in place in their bearings, and enabling their ready removal and replacing, when desired for any reason.

The invention is particularly designed for use in connection with pivot pins or shafts of pipe cutters for pipe cutting, but is equally useful in connection with similar shafts in use in other appliances and devices.

In pipe cutters a very considerable strain is placed upon the pivot shafts in the operation of the cutting of the pipe, and the cutters require sharpening and renewal, so that it is important that the said shafts may be readily removed to enable not only their own replacement, but also the replacement and repair of the rotary cutters mounted upon them.

The invention comprises means whereby not only the pivot shaft is maintained in position, but is prevented from rotation or endwise movement in its bearings without the addition of any other device. In a device of this character the frame is commonly of some comparatively soft metal, while the pivot shaft upon which the rotary member is mounted is harder. If the shaft be allowed to rotate with the rotary member it will wear away the hearing, and hence it is essential that the pivot shafts be held against such rotation.

The nature of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanyingdescription and drawings, and will be more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawings represent the invention as embodied in a form of pipe cutter.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pipe cutter showing the invention applied to four pivot shafts thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the curved end or jaw of the pipe cutter with the pivot shafts removed. Fig. 3 is a plan or end View of the curved jaw of the pipe cutter. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the pivot shafts employed in the pipe cutter illust-rated.

The invention is herein shown in connection with a pipe cutter, but as the invention relates entirely to means for retaining pivot pins or shafts in place it is unnecessary to describe in detail the operation of the pipe cutter itself. It is sufficient to note that the pipe cutter illustrated comprises a curved jaw member 1 having a shank 2 provided with ways 3 upon which travels an adjustable abutment member 4. The curved or fixed jaw member 1 is provided with two rotary cutters 5 and (3, while a movable jaw member 7 is pivoted to swing on the abutment 4, and is provided with a single co'o'perating rotary cutter S.

The several rotary cutters are each mounted on pivot shafts'and the swinging jaw member 7 also swings on a similar shaft. It is desirable that each of these shafts shall be prevented from rotary and endwise movcn'ient, and shall be readily and easily removed when desired. The construction employed for securing this end is the same in each instance and need be described but once. The pivot shaft is shown separately in Fig. -'-las 9, and near one end is provided with a small transverse pin, preferably projecting in opposite directions therefrom. The frame in which the bearing for the pivot shaft is formed is provided in one face adjacent said bearing with a transverse groove 11 to cooperate with the pin 10 so that when the pivot shaft is in position the pin 10 will rest in the groove, each side of the groove acting as a stop for and to prevent rotative movement of the pin. A retaining plate 12 is pivoted adjacent the shaft on an axis parallel thereto, as at 13, and is provided at its free end with an aperture 14 snugly fitting over the projecting end 15 of the shaft. This retaining plate is of spring metal so as to yield longitudinally in the bearing. hen the parts are in the' position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the shaft is dropped. into place in the bearing with the rotary cutter or other member in place thereon, and then the retaining plate 12 is swung upon the pivot 13 and its free end is snapped over the end of the shaft 15, so that the parts assume the position indicated in Fig. 3, and in full lines in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that when the retaining plate is in place it presses upon the pin 10 plate and swing it to one side.

holding it in its groove 11, and thus preventing rotary movement of the pivot shaft and at the same time preventing longitudinal 0r endwise movement of the shaft. It will also be seen that to remove the shaft it is only necessary to spring out the retaining The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is;

1. In a device of the character described a frame having a bearing therein and a groove in the face of said frame adjacent said bearing, a pivot shaft in said bearing, a pin extending from said shaft and fitting said groove, and a retaining plate pivoted to said frame on an axis parallel to the said shaft, said plate having an aperture at its free end to fit over the shaft and upon said pin to retain the shaft against rotary and longitudinal movements.

2. In a device of the character described a frame having a bearing therein and a groove in the face of said frame adjacent said bearing, a pivot shaft in said. bearing a pin eX' tending from said shaft and fitting said groove, and a spring retaining plate pivoted to said frame on an axis parallel to the said shaft, said plate having an aperture at its free end to fit over the shaft and upon said pin to retain the shaft against rotary and longitudinal movements.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pivot shaft removably mounted therein and projecting at one end beyond the frame, a plate pivotally mounted on the face of the frame and apertured to embrace the projecting end of the shaft, the frame being provided with a stop independent of the shaft, and means on the projecting end of the shaft adjacent the frame to engage the stop and prevent rotation of the shaft, said means also cooperating with the plate at the outside of the frame when the apertured portion of said plate embraces the shaft end, to prevent endwise movement of the shaft in the frame.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. VINTON. lVitnesses NATHAN HEARD, FREDERICK S. GREENLEAF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

